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Bride Flight
A Dutch film tells a powerful story about the inextricable link between the past and the present
It’s about faith, love and relationships, but it’s also about history; our history and that of the world. The premise of Ben Sombogaart’s “Bride Flight” is the 1953 Air Race from London to Christchurch, New Zealand, which was won by a Dutch airline, KLM. The story itself is about the people who were on that plane and how their lives before and after that flight have irrevocably changed and connected them.
“Bride Flight” tells the story of four people, in particular, who were on that KLM flight: Frank (Waldemar Torenstra/ Rutger Hauer), Esther (Anna Drijver/ Willeke van Ammelrooy), Ada (Karina Smulders/ Pleuni Touw), and Marjorie (Elise Schaap/ Petra Laseur). Each character carries with them not only their luggage, but the baggage that WWII has left behind. Many Dutch people took the leap of faith, or flight of faith, to the unknown land for a new start. Many of these passengers were young women who were flying to meet their fiancées to begin life anew in New Zealand. The flight itself, therefore became known the “bride flight,” the name which the film took on as well.
Frank, Ada, Esther and Marjorie all meet for the first time while abroad the KLM flight. Frank is a young bachelor looking to making his fortune in New Zealand, while the ladies are all brides-to-be. The story becomes complicated when already pregnant and religious Ada begins to sense the undeniable chemistry between herself and Frank. The other main story arc in the film is also related to childbearing, involving Esther’s unplanned pregnancy and Marjorie’s miscarriage. Through these numerous complicated relationships with Frank and among themselves, the characters remain tied to one another throughout their whole lives as the film seamlessly jumps back and forth between the past and present.
The film is a pleasant surprise, telling a story which hasn’t been told before, with gorgeous views of the New Zealand landscape to boot. It has been wonderfully cast as well, with each older rendition of the younger characters spot on and the acting superb. The chemistry between Frank and Ada is palpable to any audience, as is the strength and depth of Esther’s character. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Waldemar Torenstra bears a slight resemblance to James Franco and Karina Smulders’ big blue eyes translate the inner struggle of Ada’s character. While Marjorie’s character is the least developed in the film, her role as the only woman to stick to the norm is crucial to the plot of the film and each woman’s story.
Costume design by Linda Bogers and the score by Jeannot Sanavia are well-suited to the film and the periods represented in it. The last song, in particular, “Miracle” by Dutch Pop singer Ilse DeLange is sure to be a hit among audiences.
The story comes full circle from beginning to end and while an attentive audience already knows how it all ends, the past and present become one in a story that is gripping to its very end.
The film went on to take home five major jury awards at the Newport Beach Film Festival, wining for best feature, director (Ben Sombogaart), actress (Karina Smulders), cinematographer (Piotr Kukla) and screenplay (Marieka Van Der Pol).